[Lazy_Duck]

Hi folks

Just bought a brand new ZX 6R. Done about 250 miles. The bike is gorgeous (yeah even during the breaking in period), however I find the gearbox rather clunky and occasionaly experience a missed shift (false neutral). Has anyone ever had a similar problem?

I read somewhere Kawasaki transmissions are particularly bad.

Thanks

LD

 

[Freakinout]

I've just had to get used to really hitting the shifter hard on my 500R, but I've ridden a suzuki that was the same way, you can't place nice when shifting, just hit the thing hard.

 

[DJBrainz69]

Hey

For some reason I have a problem getting my zx-6r into nuetral. I was thinking about taking it back to the dealership to see what they say.


Erik

 

[Lazy_Duck]

Hi Erik

How old is your Zixxer? The new ones should come with a smart neutral finder. On mine sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

I think I will have to get used to the idea that the Zixxer implements one of the worst gearboxes around. Great clutch though... And the bike is gorgeous.

Max

 

[DJBrainz69]

I have an '04 zx-6r. I have had it less than a week and it is just taking some time to get used to finding nuetral. The gear box does seem clunky but once I pass second gear its fine. I had an older Katana before this bike where going from first to second it would sometimes go into nuetral so I am used to hitting it hard. Anyways the bike has been awesome so far. So much more power than the Katana. I just can't wait till I am finished with the break in to see what this thing can do.

Thanks
Erik

 

[Stuart]

well, for the first 500 miles it's going to be hard to hit neutral, the trick I learned is that until the bike is properly broken in, just click it into 2nd and tap down lightly and you always hit neutral

Hope that helps

 

[shift1313]

like stuart said. the tranny isnt worn in. once you break it in all the way they will find their nitch. you could try rotating your shifter down a bit more so you dont have to pull up as far on it. You can try hitting neutral while rolling to a stop from second, usually not too bad to find. Every bike is different but once it breaks in you should see an improvement. semisynthetic oils also help

 

[rcivic97]

I have an 04 zx6r and yes sometimes it is difficult. I have almost 2,000 miles on mine now and it is def better than when I first got it. Neutral is almost impossible to find until you come to a stop.

 

[Freakinout]

I have an 04 zx6r and yes sometimes it is difficult. I have almost 2,000 miles on mine now and it is def better than when I first got it. Neutral is almost impossible to find until you come to a stop.

Neurtal is almost impossible to find until you stop on my 500R too, same with my friends suzuki katana 600 too.

 

[rcivic97]

Freakin,

Exhaust is finally on. haven't been on in a while to post pictures. been working a lot

 

[Stuart]

well, who cares about neutral when moving, unless your left hand is so cramped up you really need neutral and are gonna coast to the light

 

[shift1313]

i havent ridden an 04 but on my gpz i removed the neutral light and all the dummy lights. maybe they have some sort of neutral lock out? who knows. I have noticed as the bikes get newer and newer they take less input at the shifter and its getting harder and harder to teach people how to find N. My guess is it just takes some practice. When you are rolling you should hit neutral from 2nd and not go down into first.

 

[DJBrainz69]

I only have 300 miles on my '04 zx-6r. I have found that I have to be completely stopped in order to find nuetral. I was able with my Katana 750 to find nuetral before I came to a stop. But now sometimes I just don't even bother because by the time I find it the lights green already. I'll have to see how it is after the break in period.

Thanks,
Erik

 

[Lazy_Duck]

rcivic97

did you experience any missed shift during your first 600 miles? How smoother is the bike now?

Thanks

max

 

[ZX10 Guy]

The trans for my 10 is probably very different than the 6. But I also had issues with the "clunkiness" of the trans early on in the break in period. My 10 had this annoying issue where when you would down shift from 3rd on down you would have some slop in the shift lever. What I mean by slop is that you perform the downshift but when your foot comes up and back down on the lever, the lever just drops a bit without any resistance. I have to take my foot back off the lever again before I feel the resistance I should feel and can shift down again. The upshifts were ok but did require some effort. It caused me to grind into 6th once. But ever since clearing the 1000 mile break in period, the bike has shifted beautifully. The slop in the shift lever on downshifts hasn't made itself known lately. The shifts require very little effort now and also with very little travel.

With the neutral issue, I either just come to a complete stop and just pull up on the shift lever to get neutral. The positive neutral finder (or whatever Kawi calls it) is on your 6 too. The way the system is designed you can only get into neutral from first if the bike is completely stopped--regardless of how high you flick up on the shift lever. If you don't want to do this, I find that going all the way down to first and the gradually lift up on the shift lever until the neutral light comes on. Neutral on my bike is very easy to miss when moving. I find that getting neutral when the bike is moving is just barely flick on the shift lever.

 

[snaxboy]

shift

My bike has 400 on it now and I agree with you. For the first 300 it was stiff. Just finally got it shiffting smooth. I also bought a pair of riding shoes instead of street shoes. Helps with the feel of the shifter, and keeps the feet cooler.

 

[Stuart]

lol, my feet tend to be regular temp when there is 45-100mpg winds hitting it